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When Professor Natalie Meisner, PhD, accepted her newest designation as Calgary’s 2020-2022 Poet Laureate, the first thing she did was read a poem dedicated to nurses. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she finished up a piece as an ode to those who look after us when we need it the most.

Meisner will hold the two-year position until 2022 and replaces Sheri-D Wilson. The program has been running since 2012, when local songwriter Kris Demeanor was appointed Calgary’s first poet laureate. He was followed by derek beaulieu, who served from 2014 to 2016, Micheline Maylor from 2016 to 2018, and Wilson from 2018 to 2020.

Calgary welcomed its newest poet laureate Monday and were read a poem connected to the current coronavirus pandemic.

At Monday’s combined meeting of council, Natalie Meisner was introduced as the city’s newest poet laureate. She took over from Sheri-D Wilson. Wilson’s two-year stint ends April 30.

Past poet laureates include Kris Demeanor,  Micheline Maylor and derek beaulieu. The role of the city’s poet laureate is as an arts and literary ambassador for Calgary. It comes with a $10,000 annual honorarium.

When Natalie Meisner was giving birth to her son nine years ago, she kept a notebook by her side to jot down her thoughts.

This is not to say that Calgary’s newest poet laureate simply had it beside her in the hours and days before she gave birth. No, she literally made notes while she was in labour.